Garden photos

Spring Cakes

Here are two cakes I've make recently.  The tree cake was for Bella's preschool picnic, with the names of the students in the leaves.  The sandcastle cake was for Molly's bridal shower.  I used a combination of graham crackers and vanilla wafers for the "sand," plus a little edible glitter to make it sparkle.  The turrets are mini Lorna Dorne's.

Fruit pizza

Yummy & easy!  Sugar cookies with cream cheese icing and sliced fruit.  Cut them into different shapes if you want.  Blot the fruit dry after you cut it to keep the cookies from getting soggy too fast.

Happy Birthday Bella!

This is Bella's 4th birthday cake.  Since we had two parties, I suggested cupcakes for one, but she insisted that everyone get the carousel cake.  So I made two tops, that way each party could have a complete cake.

I made 2 cakes, dividing each batch into three layers instead of two.  I iced between three sets of two layers, and froze them.  When they were nearly firm, I marked the center and cut two of the cakes into a dome shape for the carousel top.  The bottom of the carousel was the remaining two layer cake.  The pillars are Wilton cake pillars with dowel rods for support.  The top is supported with covered cardboard cake circles (a little precarious!).  I used a flat tip to pipe the icing on the top, and topped it all off with edible glitter, and of course, ponies.  Shawn always adds a critical element to my cakes, and he was responsible for the construction portion of the carousel, and the flag on top.

Overall, I think Bella loved it, though she did ask me where the poles the ponies went up and down on were!

Date Night: Tapas

Great time at Date Night tonight.  We made empanadas, shrimp toast (the favorite), sweet potato crepes with cranberry sauce and turkey, plus roasted pepper pinwheels and puff pastry twists.   Visit WWW.recreator.com for more info on cooking classes and videos!

Cooking Classes @ the Middletown Cooking Studio

Jenn & Megan showing off their seared shrimp & scallops at last week's Date Night: Seafood.

We also made fish in parchment packets, shrimp & fennel pot pie, and lemon bars - yum!

 

Visit the Frederick County Parks and Recreation website for more upcoming classes!  Click on Registration to browse programs.  While you're there, check out the new page just for Cooking Classes.  We've got links to cooking videos & recipes, including my newest one featuring Butternut Squash Bisque.  You can also email the cooking program directly with any questions.

Caramel Apples

These are the cutest little things!  Use a melon baller to scoop out balls of Granny Smith apples, insert lollipop stick, pat dry, then dip in caramel and assorted toppings.  (I forgot to dry my apples, so the caramel is sliding off!).

These are the perfect size for kids, both for making and eating.  Mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, mini M&M's, and sprinkles all make great toppings.  You can also dip the apples in melted white or semisweet chocolate.

Christmas Cookies!

Bella and I made cookies today for her Christmas party at school.  She went a little wild with the sprinkles!

Cookies with the kids

The kids and I made ginger cookies tonight.  This is my first post by phone.  Look for a longer one in a few days with a recipe for Butternut Squash Soup with Ham - very yummy!

Date Night: Farmer's Market

Had a great time at the Date Night cooking class Friday night.  The theme was Farmer's Market, and we had lots of beautiful local produce, meats, eggs, and some fresh herbs from home.  Pictured are an Eggplant Napoleon with Fresh Mozzarella and Cherry Tomato Chutney; Spaghetti with Squash Ribbons, Parmesan, and Fresh Herbs; and Fritatta with Spaghetti, Sweet & Hot Peppers, and Bacon.

Our three couples did a great job - just some fresh ingredients and inspiration, no recipes - Yum!

Friday night classes are full for the fall session, but look for the Winter Recreater with old favorites and exciting new classes.

Philadelphia in July

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Shawn, Bella, and I visited Philly a few weeks ago.  We had a great time, especially at the Reading Terminal Market.   Everything was so fresh, and very affordable.  I also found my newest favorite product - Charlie's Soap.  One tablespoon cleans a large load of laundry, no fragrances, phosphates, conditioners, etc.  I was skeptical, but it really works.

We had an amazing view of the city from our hotel room on the 22nd floor, and Bella spent most of her time in the room standing on the window ledge looking out.  She also ran all the way up the step of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and impressed the hell out of a cabbie when she hailed his cab.

Miscellany

I guess I took the summer off...

Anyway, here's a selection of foods I've made, not much new, just some old favorites.

Zucchini "Crab" Cakes ~ shredded zucchini, a little mayo, dry mustard, lemon juice, an egg, breadcrumbs and Old Bay.  These taste remarkably like crab cakes.  I topped them with Japanese white sauce, recipe here.

I like to use just enough mayo to hold everything together - form it into a ball, roll and bread crumbs, flatten, and fry in a just a little olive oil.



Blueberry Pie - Happy Birthday Dad!



I love this recipe for Sloppy Joes from Simply Recipes.  I made these with ground turkey and added some chopped zucchini - the kids tried to complain, but they just tasted too good.



Blueberry Butter ~ words cannot describe but I'll try - just sweet enough, a hint of tart, but no bitterness, cinnamon & spice, and smooth as silk.

Next year Shawn's coming with me to pick the blueberries!

A Collection of Cakes

I know, I know, I haven't posted anything in too long.  I just haven't made anything good enough.  I can't see the point of going to all the trouble to take pictures, type recipes, and write a little something about them if I don't like them enough to ever make the dish again.  I have a few things in the works, but until then, I've created a collection of cakes I've made over the years.  You can click on each image to make it bigger.[gallery]

Winter Wonderland

We got out today just to experience this historic blizzard.  Snow was waist deep at 3:00pm, and still hasn't stopped at 9:00!  There was a good 4-5" on the road.  Luckily we'd shoveled paths this weekend, and they were fairly easy to excavate, but lots more shoveling tomorrow.[gallery]

Merry Christmas!

Feels Like Christmas

Happy Halloween!

Seckel Pears

Seckel pears from Blue Faerie Farm at the Middletown Farmer's Market